Chapter 409: Chapter 408- Sudden meeting

“Haah~” Ruby let out a long, weary sigh as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes unfocused and distant, staring at nothing in particular.

“You look exhausted,” Amanda said gently, stepping closer with a warm smile. She handed Ruby a steaming cup of tea, the delicate aroma filling the quiet room.

Ruby accepted it with a faint nod, exhaling again before murmuring, “Well, for the past two weeks, I’ve barely slept properly. Always moving, preparing, answering questions…”

It was true — life had been anything but kind to her lately.

Ever since the Vermillion family exposed the Twilight Vault, the world had turned its gaze toward them. Reporters hounded them day and night, flooding the gates with endless questions.

Of course, not everyone believed the evidence the Vermillions presented. Some questioned its authenticity, while others doubted their motives altogether. Why trust a family that had long stayed detached from public affairs?

Ruby could almost hear her father’s calm voice echoing in her mind — a warning he’d given long ago. *”News never flows in the same direction, Ruby. If seven out of ten reporters are praising you, the remaining three will dig until they find a reason to brand you a fraud.”*

And he was right. That’s how the world of information worked — balance through conflict. If everyone agreed on something, then something about it was already suspicious.

“Have you been eating well?” Amanda asked, studying her closely. “You look thinner. Your face seems smaller.”

Ruby sighed, not surprised by the concern in her tone. Amanda wasn’t wrong — her complexion was pale, and faint shadows hung beneath her eyes. Her once vibrant hair now looked dull and tangled, a clear sign she hadn’t been caring for herself.

Leaning back again, Ruby took a slow sip of the tea, letting its warmth linger on her tongue. “I just didn’t want to leave any loose ends in this matter,” she muttered. “The Twilight Vault case is already under trial, and with the reports we’ve submitted, the council will have no choice but to find them guilty.”

The Vermillion family had always been vigilant — keeping a close watch on both allies and enemies alike. They didn’t gather evidence for the sake of distrust but for foresight. The Tower had always been cautious of them, and the Vermillions knew that well.

And as fate would have it, that very foresight became their greatest weapon.

The evidence they had collected over the years was now being used to corner those who had conspired against them — those who dared to challenge the Vermillion name.

Amanda set her cup down, her expression thoughtful before she asked, “Any concrete decision about what would happen if the Twilight Vault is actually removed?”

Ruby hummed, tapping a finger against the porcelain edge of her cup.

Amanda had always been more than just a friend — she was someone the Vermillion family had trusted for three generations. That bond made Ruby more open with her than she would ever be with an outsider.

“Well,” Ruby began, her tone steady, “we’ve discussed a few things. Changing the staff, rewriting the rules, reshaping the entire system of operation — ethics included.”

Amanda’s eyes widened, her lips parting slightly. “That… means…” She leaned forward, voice trembling with disbelief. “The Vermillion family would have their own Tower?!”

The idea itself was staggering.

In the entire kingdom, aside from the royal and high noble houses, the Tower stood as the main governing body — a symbol of authority and regulation. The Vermillion family already held the power of a Duke, but owning a Tower outright would elevate them beyond comparison… even above the King himself.

It was almost unthinkable.

Ruby merely shrugged, her calmness almost unsettling. “I suppose many have already guessed this outcome. The council didn’t really have a choice. In the end, they can only entrust power to those who’ve carried the burden of these lands for generations.”

Amanda shook her head, staring in disbelief. “You aren’t reacting the way you should be, Ruby! This is monumental. Having a Tower under your family’s control means absolute dominance. The Vermillions will be *untouchable* now!”

Ruby’s lips curved into a cold, almost amused smirk. Her crimson eyes glimmered faintly as she met Amanda’s gaze.

“We always have been.”

Amanda smiled. “Now that’s more like the tigress I know. Your charm seemed to have faded under all that dust and paperwork.”

Ruby’s shoulders slumped as she plopped onto the table. “I just hope Adrian doesn’t see me like this—”

Knock, knock.

Someone rapped on the door.

“I’ll check,” Amanda said, rising from her seat.

Ruby frowned. She wasn’t expecting any visitors—especially not here. Hardly anyone even knew she was using this workshop.

Must be someone from the team, she thought. Maybe they need help with the project.

But the moment Amanda opened the door and stepped aside, Ruby’s mind went blank.

“A-Adrian?!” she yelped, springing to her feet, eyes wide.

The brown-haired man smiled gently. “Did I disturb you?”

Ruby shook her head quickly. “No, no—please, come in.”

Now she really regretted not taking a bath before coming here. Ugh! Her hair was a mess, her clothes dusty—this was the last person she wanted to see her like this.

Adrian stepped closer. “How are you doing?”

Before she could answer, he skipped the usual handshake and wrapped his arms around her.

Seeing this, Amanda quietly stepped out and closed the door.

Ruby froze for a moment, then melted into him. Her restless heart seemed to lighten all at once as she leaned against his chest, surrendering to the warmth of his embrace.

Adrian’s arm rested around her waist. “You’ve lost weight,” he murmured.

“You can tell?” Ruby asked, her cheeks growing warm. “I’ve been moving around a lot, so…”

Adrian hummed softly, starting to pull back—but Ruby caught the hem of his shirt and whispered, “Just another minute.”

He went still, then wordlessly drew her closer again, holding her even tighter.

The room was silent, save for the faint rhythm of two quickened heartbeats.

At last, Ruby let go and stepped back, her voice steadier now. “So… how did you know I was here?”

Adrian froze for a moment before replying in a sheepish tone, “I… actually didn’t know you were here. I just came to use your workshop.”

Ruby grinned at his reaction. “You don’t have to be embarrassed. Even my parents wouldn’t expect me to be here instead of home.”

Adrian’s brows lifted. “You didn’t go back after returning from your trip?”

Ruby shook her head. “I… didn’t want to face my family right now.” She hesitated before continuing, “My aunts, uncles, and a bunch of others have gathered at the house, and after what happened recently, I just… don’t think I could handle their looks.”

Recently, when Annabelle lost her composure and attacked the Skulth base, Ruby’s aunt was revealed to be a spy for the cult.

She had planned to testify against Adrian, trying to frame him, and she was also the one who leaked the exact location of the Vermillion family’s main house.

Naturally, she was executed by the Vermillion patriarch for her crimes. But emotions rarely yield to reason.

To the family, the one who exposed the traitor—Ruby—had become the very source of their resentment.

Adrian held her hand and softly said, “Ruby…you didn’t do anything wrong. And if someone says otherwise, I don’t need to tell you how you will respond to them.”

Ruby nodded, “I know…it’s just, I can never understand some emotions that people prioritize over rationality. Trust is something that should come above everything else. And yet …” She trailed off, sigh seeping through her lips.

Adrian smiled as he brought her to sit back down, “Now, don’t punish yourself for them. You look quite pale. Have you not been eating well?”

Ruby looked dejected, “Work has kept me quite busy to focus on my diet.”

Adrian hummed, “Then let’s have dinner together today. I will make you a hearty meal.”

Ruby’s eyes glimmered as she flashed a childlike smile.

Then, she remembered something and asked, “By the way….why did you need to use my workshop for?”

There was no complaint but genuine curiosity in her voice.

Adrian then told her everything related to Raven and the problem her people were facing.

He then went ahead and shared his idea to save the crops growing on that planet. The runestones he has created and what he would need from here.

“So…you want several reflectors that would illuminate the plantations, huh?” Ruby asked, her arms crossed and head nodding.

Adrian hummed, “Think they can make it?”

Ruby smiled, “You just need to direct them with a single reflector and manual labor after that can be easily done by the staff members. Don’t worry, there are enough people working here to make a hundred reflectors within a few hours.”

Adrian’s brows elevated, “Are you sure? I need seventy two reflectors.”

Ruby chuckled, “Yes, a few hours would be enough. And while they would be working…” she held his hand delicately and said, “Please stay with me.”

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